High plasma soluble levels of the immune checkpoint HLA-G molecule among bodybuilders.

Talita M Fernandes,Eduardo A Donadi,Celso T Mendes-Junior,Enrico F Puggina,Ana Paula M Fernandes,Paulin Sonon,Milena C De Paula,Mauro Lombardo

doi:10.1371/journal.pone.0238044

Abstract

IntroductionStudies report that intense physical activity influences the down-regulation of immune function in athletes as well as the interaction between adipose tissue and the immune system.AimThis study aimed to compare the plasma soluble levels of the immune checkpoint HLA-G (sHLA-G) molecule with the fat mass and muscle mass index among 77 bodybuilders and 64 controls.ResultsThe comparisons of the percentage of body fat (%BF) revealed that the groups of male and female bodybuilders showed a statistically significant reduction in the percentage of body fat when compared to their control group, (P <0.0001, for both comparisons). Regarding sHLA-G levels, the comparisons showed that the group of male bodybuilders had significantly higher sHLA-G levels compared to the group of female bodybuilders (P = 0.0011).ConclusionOur results showed that in bodybuilders with less body fat, the systemic levels of soluble HLA-G, an immunological molecule with recognized immunosuppressive function, are significantly higher and suggest that this immune mechanism may corroborate the immunosuppressive state in athletes undergoing intense and prolonged physical training.

Highlights

OPEN ACCESSCitation: Fernandes TM, Puggina EF, MendesJunior CT, de Paula male controls (MC), Sonon P, Donadi EA, et al (2020) High plasma soluble levels of the immune checkpoint Human leukocyte antigens (HLA)-G molecule among bodybuilders
Our results showed that in bodybuilders with less body fat, the systemic levels of soluble HLA-G, an immunological molecule with recognized immunosuppressive function, are significantly higher and suggest that this immune mechanism may corroborate the immunosuppressive state in athletes undergoing intense and prolonged physical training
Considering that: i) numerous studies report that intense physical activity may down-regulate the immune function in athletes [5, 8,9,10], ii) the reported interactions between adipose tissue and the immune system [15] may be affected by the low amount of subcutaneous fat in bodybuilders [3, 4], and iii) HLA-G down-regulates the function of cells of the innate and adaptive immune system [11,12,13,14], this study aimed to evaluate the soluble HLA-G levels among bodybuilders, stratified according to fat mass and muscle mass index

Summary

Introduction

Studies report that intense physical activity influences the down-regulation of immune function in athletes as well as the interaction between adipose tissue and the immune system

Objectives

Methods

Results

Discussion

Conclusion